How-To Series

Cheat Sheets

If your dog suddenly takes scooting along the carpet to wipe her butt, you may be in for a real treat — the dubious pleasure of expressing your best friend’s anal sacs. Lots of licking or chewing of his[more…]

Dogs don’t get cavities the way humans do, but they can develop plaque, tartar, and gingivitis — all of which contribute to foul breath and tooth problems. Trips to the veterinarian can be costly, so it[more…]

Beyond brushing your dog’s teeth, you can help keep your canine companion’s canines clean in a variety of ways. Most of the methods have something to do with feeding your dog the right kind of food and[more…]

Tear stains show up as brown, gunky stuff that runs from your dog’s eye down the muzzle. Although they’re unsightly, they’re natural for some breeds. You have a variety of methods to choose from to clean[more…]

You have to factor in a whole range of issues when you start thinking about adopting a dog. Merely realizing that you’re a dog person isn’t enough to justify adopting a pup. You need to consider whether[more…]

An animal shelter is a great place to adopt a dog, and a great place to start a search for your canine companion. But adopting an animal from a shelter or a rescue group isn’t for everyone. You definitely[more…]

Dogs don’t require thousands of accessories, and you certainly don’t need to spend a fortune to equip your dog. However, to be able to manage and train your dog successfully, you need some basic items[more…]

You may notice your dog scooting across the carpet, leaving a little brown trail. Although many people mistakenly believe that worms are the cause of this behavior, the real culprits are the anal glands[more…]

Your new puppy definitely needs a series of vaccinations in the first year of life to protect him from many dangerous diseases as his doggy immune system develops. Different veterinarians recommend slightly[more…]

If your canine companion struggles with weight issues, the solutions for dogs are much the same as for humans — more food or less food and perhaps more exercise for an overweight dog, keeping in mind that[more…]

With separation related behaviors (SRB), also called separation anxiety, your dog becomes anxious and stressed when you leave him. Dogs that experience separation anxiety usually are highly pack-oriented[more…]

Dogs that would rather run than fight are notorious for submissive wetting behavior. These dogs usually wet themselves or the floor when you first greet them. The dog either squats or rolls over on his[more…]

Dogs are omnivores, like humans. They like and can exist on meat or plant material — although they prefer meat. Dogs love treats of carrots, celery, or apple, but meat is a lot closer to their hearts.[more…]

A great many dog lovers have embraced the raw-food diet known as BARF, which stands for Bones and Raw Food, or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. The idea is that the diet is most like what a dog would[more…]

The label on the bag of dog food provides a guideline on the amount of food recommended for your dog. It’s just a start, though. Dogs who are highly active, pregnant, or nursing puppies have higher requirements[more…]

Giving your pet a little something special from time to time isn’t going to do him any harm and can be very useful in training situations, or when you’re trying to keep him occupied while he’s home alone[more…]

A big part of keeping your dog happy and healthy is making sure that he gets enough exercise. Just as for humans, physical exercise is necessary to keep a dog’s stomach, bones and joints, and brain functioning[more…]

If a natural disaster strikes, you should have an emergency kit and a plan for your pets. You're also wise to consider what would happen to your pets if you were in an accident or became ill suddenly and[more…]

Reading a dog food label to determine whether it provides the correct nutrients for your dog really isn’t very different from reading the nutritional label on your cereal box. A certain amount of nutritional[more…]

If you’re confused by some of the lingo on dog-food bags, you’re not alone — what’s a by-product, anyway? And meat meal may sound like ground-up meat, but it’s achieved by cooking, not grinding.[more…]

You have your dog’s food bowl in hand and the dog food on the counter in front of you. But how much food do you put in the bowl? Calories are the key. The label on the dog food package should tell you[more…]

Many people keep their dog’s bowl full and let him eat whenever he wants, known as free-feeding. Although this may seem like an easy approach to feeding, there are many reasons why it's best not to free-feed[more…]

Dog have allergies, just like people do — and often to the same things such as dust, pollen, grass, and insect bites. Your furry friend may also be allergic to certain ingredients in her kibble.[more…]